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Background1984 was a breaktrhough year for fledgling L.A melodic rockers Autograph. A cool name, image, moniker.. really this band should've been where Bon Jovi ended up, but somehow it didn't quite happen for them. Making their name as the support band on Van Halen's '1984' tour, Autograph presented 'Sign In Please' as their debut album, and though the band struck big with it along with their single 'Turn Up The Radio', the rest of the album wasn't so consistent. Which takes us to their second LP 'That's The Stuff'. One gets the impression that this album was rather rushed in the overall scheme of things. It wasn't until the early part of 1985 that the tracks off 'Sign In Please' were getting heard on radio across the USA albeit slightly late, then all of the sudden the band were in the studio trying to rush another LP out the door. It's not as if 'That's The Stuff' is a poor release. No way, but given time and consideration, the band should've taken more care to select a bunch of tunes that would show them the way forward - not backward. Alun (dangerzone) quite rightly pointed out that the band had the ability to mix hard rock aggression with AOR sensibilities - but let themselves down with giveaway and weak choruses.. something I agree entirely with. That in itself suggests a problem with the songwriting.

The SongsGiven that Steve Plunkett does most of the songwriting, I guess most of the blame can be laid at his feet. The title track 'That's The Stuff' is a good case in point. The lyrics are ok but the annoyingly repetitive chorus is a turn off. They should've picked a better opener. 'Take No Prisoners' is equally nondescript. It's not until track three 'Blondes In Black Cars' that things are on the improve. This one ended up being their single lifted from the album. It's a catchy slice of cheeky pop metal with a hint of appeal. 'You'll Get It Over It' is another to disappoint, but thankfully we are given a reprieve with 'Crazy World' - which harks back to material from the debut. Along with 'Blondes In Black Cars', the other highlight here is 'Six String Fever', probably more so for the guitar antics of Steve Lynch. 'Changing Hands' has a surprising depth of melody which makes it feel a little bit out of place with the rest of the tracks here. The amazing guitar tapping technique of Steve Lynch is to the fore on 'Hammerhead', no one quite has a grasp on this style of playing as he does! It segues nicely into the party rock anthem of ''Built For Speed'.. the tale of an L.A babe who is literally 'built for... ' Yeah right! Demonstrating the album still has its moments is the brilliant 'Paint This Town', another party rock anthem. I reckon if Autograph had shifted the track listing around (as in putting their last two songs at the front-end), and perhaps changing one or two other tracks completely, the fate of this album could've been much different.. for the better..

In SummaryDespite my opinion, the album still managed to go Gold (i.e. over a million copies sold). Of the three 80's era albums from Autograph, this one is probably the weakest. Things improved markedly by 1987 with the release of their third album 'Loud And Clear' - a closet classic for that year, but the band were undone by a ignorant and lazy record label who after four years of trying, had no idea what to do with the band or their albums. Leaving the label, the band continued on for a short while but threw the towel in soon after. Plunkett went solo, Richards went onto Dirty White Boy, while Lynch reverted to Guitar Clinics. Who knows, Autrograph could yet resurrect themselves back onto the 21st century classic rockers circuit. I wouldn't put it past them!

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This is one that I had put on my list to do a member review (thanks for giving us that ability) once I can make some time. Based on just about every review I've ever seen on this album, I must be the odd man out because I absolutely love it. 'Sign In Please' has some great moments but is sometimes a bit 'goofy'. 'Loud & Clear' also has its moments (the brilliant 'More Than A Million Times' being the best). But to me, Autograph nailed it with this one, even if no one else (including the band itself) thinks so. I've tried listening to the title track from the viewpoint of those who say that the chorus is boring and repetitive, but I can't get past the fact that I still really like that song. I can't find a track on here that I consider to be weak.

I must really like this, since I spent $40 to buy it last year! I'm surprised that it is so hard to find, since it was hardly an obscure release. I mean, the market is often flooded with many copies of CDs like this, to the point you can buy used copies for a buck or two. I guess this one is caught up in that time period before CDs were widespread - most of the sales no doubt were vinyl or cassette. And the CD releases were limited.

About the CD releases - there apparently are two versions - the original song lineup (as listed here), and an alternate version which replaces 'Six String Fever' with the Grand Funk Railroad classic 'We're An American Band'. While Autograph does justice to that song, I prefer 'Six String Fever' (my CD does have SSF on it, but I found a copy of WAAB online).

Isn't it the blue cover version of the vinyl and CD that omits 'Six String Fever' for 'We're An American Band'?
I have the red cover on vinyl with the original tracklisting, but the CD with blue cover as a Japanese import. The booklet and disc tracklisting states 'Six String Fever' but the CD has 'We're An American Band'.....